Here we’ll do a head-to-head comparison between the latest: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 and the Marshall Kilburn II. Both are portable party monsters that go very loud, and both sound absolutely great doing so, not just to us but to most audio critics out there.

We’ll start with a side-by-side overview and then dive further into the relative advantages of each.

Update History of This Article

• Sounds fabulous: Top-notch clarity and good dynamism and balance; deep, convincing bass• Strong 360-degree delivery (sounds the same in any direction)• Excellent performance at high volumes• Goes very loud for a speaker of its size• Can pair with a second Megaboom 3 for stereo• Glamorous, loud design

• Styled like a mini guitar amp• One 20 Watt Class D amplifier for the woofer• Two 8 Watt Class D amplifiers for the tweeters• Corner caps for increased durability

Connectivity

• Bluetooth smart wireless audio profile (A1DP), speaker can be turned on and off via the app, range of 45 meters• No 3.5 mm input• Connects up to three devices simultaneously in block party mode• Connect two Megaboom 3s for stereo or also pair with other multiple Ultimate Ears Boom, Boom 2, Boom 3, or Megaboom speakers for more volume

Our Very Deep Thoughts on 2018’s Top-Notch Megaboom 3 and Kilburn II

This has been a great year for Bluetooth speakers, as both Ultimate Ears and Marshall have further refined their best larger options for sound on the go. There are the obvious differences in style; the brash, young party guy Megaboom 3 shimmers a bit, like a wanna-be disco ball, whereas the Kilburn II is more of a classic guitar rock sort of party guy. But let’s do get serious about what’s really different.

Differences in Features

Both of these speakers, thankfully, don’t go over the top by trying to impress with unnecessary features (the days when Bluetooth speakers tried to serve as speakerphones seem to be over). The Kilburn II is generally even a bit more reserved in just focusing on good sound.

The most outstanding feature in our opinion is the ability to pair two Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3s together for a stereo pair or more volume (though this does mean the expense of two speakers). The Kilburn II lacks this.

We prefer the analogue controls of the Kilburn II; it’s deeply satisfying and much more convenient to be able to twist dials to adjust bass, volume, and treble. The Megaboom 3 does offer equalizer control as well but from it’s dedicated app.

The Kilburn II has a 3.5 mm input and includes a coiled cable to boot, if you still have devices that use those. The Megaboom 3 does not.

Both advertise 20-hour battery life, with the Marshall Kilburn II claiming “20+”. In real world use, most reviewers and customer reviews say that they get nearly these times when listening at normal volumes.

The Megaboom 3 is fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rated) and can withstand a lot of drops and abuse. The Kilburn II is only rated to withstand the odd bit of drizzle or splash (IPX2).

The Megaboom 3 can be hung from a fabric loop and fits a standard carabiner so it’s easy to hang from anything. The Kilburn II is much heavier and carried with a hand strap. Both speakers sound best placed on a flat, resonant surface, however.

Keep in mind as well the overall sizes and weights of these two. The Kilburn II, at 2.5-times heavier, is simply not as portable.

How the Megaboom 3 and Kilburn II Sound, and How Loud Are They?

The major problems with lower-quality Bluetooth speakers is that they tend to either distort at high volumes or overemphasize a rather shallow bass end. The Megaboom 3 does neither; it remains even and balanced across bass, mids, and high end, and keeps an impressive clarity and separation of musical instruments for its small size. There’s sweetness in the highs and punchy convincing depth in the bass.

Most impressively, the Megaboom 3 sounds just about the same no matter which side of it you’re standing on. It’s thus just fine when used outside and placed in the middle of a beach or backyard dance party. This is something that the Marshall Kilburn II can’t do; its rear-oriented tweeters provide some multidirectionality but it sounds best from the front.

The Kilburn II gets a bit louder than the Megaboom 3 and its bass goes a bit deeper. Thrillingly it still sounds great at the highest volumes without distorting. There’s punchiness and dynamism throughout the range, and good separation of instruments and a bit of a stereo effect from the two rear-firing tweeters. It’s about the best you can do for a road speaker that sounds as good as your living room setup.

Wrap-Up: Which of These Is Right for You?

The cheaper option and the easiest thing to throw in a bag and carry around is the Megaboom 3, and no reasonable person will be at all disappointed with how it sounds.

But if you’re willing to both carry and spend a bit more, the Marshall Kilburn II delivers a more gorgeous performance overall. It’s not built for rough use around water, however.

What is SelectoGuru.com?

We recommend the best stuff, particularly stuff for minimalist travel. In addition to testing out gear ourselves, we analyse the results reported from all major American and European consumer organisations and read copious press and tech site reviews. We also bring our own heavy dose of realism concerning how these products are actually used.

Who are you?

Nice folks, based out of frequently changing European cities. We released our first article in November 2014 and have continued to write obsessively ever since about whatever it strikes our fancy to research.

How do you know what’s best?

In addition to trying out the products, we review every scrap of information available on them, in many languages, before we make a recommendation. Our meta-analysis includes links to the sources we have found most useful, so you can verify them for yourself.

What do you mean by ‘best’?

The most useful, reliable stuff at the best price. We (usually) don't agree with tech sites' fawning over the most decked-out, crazy cool gadgets; we look for what works best for most people's real-life needs.

Why should I trust you?

We never accept payment from product manufacturers; our revenue is from affiliate networks, especially Amazon. This means we have no motivation to recommend one particular product over another (as long as they're available online, and pretty much everything is). Our goal is to recommend products that will serve you well, so that you'll come back to us as we expand this site to cover more products.

How can I support this research?

If you like what we're doing, just use our links on the day that you're ready to buy. Your prices will be the same and we'll hopefully get a small cut from Amazon or whomever. If you hate us, skip our links; we'll get nothing and have a sad.